Franklin man charged with murder

Police working to ID two bodies found at East Troy farmhouse

UPDATED – A 43-year-old Franklin man was charged Tuesday with first-degree reckless homicide and hiding a corpse after human remains were found in a fire pit at a Town of East Troy farmhouse last week.

According to a press release from the Franklin Police Department, Mathew J. Neumann, owner of Spot Free Cleaning in Franklin, was arrested last week after the Franklin police, who were assisting in a vehicle arson investigation by the Milwaukee Police Department, uncovered information of a possible homicide by Neumann and linked him to reports of two missing men.

Both charges against Neumann were listed as “party to a crime,” which indicates others may have been involved. Neumann was in custody in Milwaukee and was scheduled to appear in intake court Tuesday.

Police searched Neumann’s residence, business and rental property in the Town of East Troy. When searching the East Troy property at W2114 Highway J, investigators discovered a fire pit, which contained human remains, according to the press release.

For the full story, see this week’s edition of the East Troy Times/News.